Romans 12:1, Defining Christian Consecration
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The consecrated life that is acceptable to God is characterised by holiness. The word “holy” means “set apart, sanctified, consecrated.” The root word means “chaste, pure.” Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God through Jesus Christ. It means sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from earth’s defilement. It is made possible by the God, the Father of mercies (2 Cor. 1:3) who showed compassion or pity for the suffering sinner. [The Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary, Spiros Zodhiates]
Solomon defined holiness as the defining character of believers that God pronounced as good in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The fear God and keeping of His commandments bring holiness. The consecrated life is to present our bodies as a living sacrifice; one fully surrendered to God in faith. The believer’s body is the temple of God which is holy as taught by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:17 “The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” Andrew Murray said well, “From eternity it was God’s desire to create man as a dwelling place through which to show His glory.”
The believer can depend upon God’s mercies as they make their bodies a living offering to Him. Plumer observed well, “By the mercies of God, not merely by the infinite kindness known to dwell in the divine bosom, but by all the amazing mercies manifested in your election, calling, justification, adoption, sanctification, redemption, and glorification…”
Choose to surrender your life to God is the Apostle Paul’s plea to you and experience the beauty of holiness in your life. Amen.